Category: bringing out God

Father & son, Master & disciple

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 09 July 2026
Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>     Matthew 10:7-15
Photo by Mr. Vigie Ongleo in Colorado, 03 June 2026.
I have not really known you,
Lord my God;
grant me the grace of intimacy,
like that of a son and a Father
as my life and my mission;
You have nurtured me, O God
as your own son
but I did not recognize you
that later in life,
I followed my doubts,
my false securities
and negatives thoughts
than you.

Thus says the Lord: When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks, yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer (Hosea 11:1-4).

Forgive me,
merciful Father;
though I pray always
while striving to be holy,
the more I stray from you
because my love for you is
superficial as seen too in my
skin-deep interpersonal relationships
because your love experiences
are forgotten as I give more 
emphasis on my shortcomings,
expectations,
and "returns".
Let me get closer to you,
Father in the love of your Son
Jesus Christ so that my
brokenness may be healed;
set me free from my many
imprisonment with sin
so that I can go
make the proclamation
that "the Kingdom 
of heaven is at hand"
by letting me 
"cure the sick,
raise the dead,
cleanse lepers,
and drive out demons"
(Matthew 10:7-8);
remind me always of your immense
love for me poured by 
Christ on the Cross 
so that I may "give 
without cost"
(Matthew 10:8)
except that I am doing
your most Holy Will;
and lastly, let me
trust you completely
so that I am not bothered
with so many things for
the journey
except Jesus,
only Jesus,
always Jesus.
Amen.
Photo by Mr. Vigie Ongleo in Colorado, 03 June 2026.

Bringing out God

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 09 June 2026
1 Kings 17:7-16     ><)))*> + ><)))*> + ><)))*>     Matthew 5:13-16
Photo by author, Taal Lake from St. Anthony de Padua Chapel, D’Alta Tagaytay, 02 June 2026.
God our loving Father,
we thank you for the gift of
this brand new day
especially for our brothers
and sisters in GenSan and other
parts of Mindanao struck 
by a powerful quake yesterday;
may this calamity bring out the
best among us as we try to rebuild
lives and cities anew.
Your words today,
dear God speak about
"bringing out" -
when Elijah came to Zarephath,
he asked your "designated widow"
to bring out for him 
"a cupful of water to drink...
along a bit of bread" while in the
midst of a widespread drought.

She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the Lord had foretold through Elijah (1 Kings 17:15-16).

Teach us to trust you
more in Jesus Christ your Son
who calls us today "salt of the
earth" and "light of the world" -
how lovely that both things are so
commonly found in every home
then and now that also do the same
what the widow of Zarephath did
in bringing out water and bread
to Elijah; may we be like the salt
that brings out the taste and flavor
of food that brings delight and 
nourishment to everyone;
likewise, may we be like the light
that dispels darkness to bring out
realities and things into sight. 
God our loving Father, 
may we never lose the saltiness
of the salt, the luminance of light
we already have but have taken
for granted, even traded for lesser
things that have severely affected 
our relationships, work, and inner life;
your Son Jesus Christ clearly called us
to make our light "shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds 
and glorify your heavenly Father"
(Matthew 5:16).
May we be clarified always
that being salt of the earth
and light of the world is not
self-promotion so common these days
but God's glory exactly what 
Elijah and the widow of Zarephath
did. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Anthony de Padua Chapel, D’Alta Tagaytay, 02 June 2026.